NC lawmakers to vote against Medicaid expansion

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RALEIGH, NC -- The North Carolina State Senate voted against Medicaid expansion last week. Wednesday it was the House of Representatives' turn.

The Affordable Care Act requires states to either expand Medicaid to create their own health care exchanges, or give up billions in federal aid for those exchanges and let the federal government set up the state's exchange.

Republicans in the General Assembly, as well as the governor, believe the Medicaid system is unfit to run, let alone to be expanded.

Public health advocates believe the expansion will help more North Carolinians get care without going to emergency rooms, which are more costly than public health clinics.

Once Governor McCrory signs the bill into law, it will be up to the federal government to set up an exchange.